Compare towns
Plainville vs Ayer vs Farmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Farmington has the highest household income ($141k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plainville | Ayer | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
8,645Lowest |
27,134Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.5±1.4 12% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Farmington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Farmington and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$141,120±$10kHighest 75% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$432,700±$14k 30% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,807±$82Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,771Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Farmington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Farmington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Farmington School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Farmington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.5 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.